Coolest Kid Thanksgiving Game Ideas

Make sure to visit the huge Thanksgiving section on www.coolest-holiday-parties.com, STUFFED with the coolest Thanksgiving party ideas, games, activities, crafts and lots more wonderful information. You'll also find loads of free Thanksgiving printables.

*Corn Gobbling Contest: Prepare a pot full of corncobs and have a corn gobbling contest. The contestants must eat the corn without using their hands.

Or, you can pair up the kids, blindfold one, tie the other's hands, and have the blindfolded kid try to feed his partner. Loads of fun!

*Turkey Calling Contest: Host a turkey calling contest, complete with lots of squawking, pecking, wattle shaking and flapping. Give each child a prize with a fun distinction: "cutest turkey", "loudest turkey", "most authentic", "most likely to be spared", etc. This activity can also be turned into a relay race with family and friends split into two teams.

*Wild Turkey Hunt: Give each guest a paper bag. On a dozen or so index cards, draw or paste a picture of a turkey (you can also use a stuffed animal turkey or cellophane-wrapped sugar cookies in turkey shapes). To play, everyone leaves the room except the leader. The leader hides the cards around the room. Hunters return and begin the hunt. As each turkey is found, it is brought back to the leader who corrals them in a separate pile for each hunter. When all the turkeys have been found, the hunter with the most turkeys is the winner and becomes the leader for the next round. You can also use miniature pumpkins (Pumpkin Hunt) or harvest colored corn (Harvest Hunt).

*Popcorn Toss: Pair up the kids, give each team a cup full of popcorn and have them toss the popcorn into their couple's mouth. The first team to finish wins. This can also be done with cranberries.

*Gobble, Gobble, Cook Me!: This is a Thanksgiving adaptation of Duck, Duck, Goose. Players sit on the ground in large circle. One player is chosen as the turkey. The turkey must then select a cook who will try to catch him and roast him for Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey walks around the circle, patting each player lightly on the head and calling each player either "Gobble" or "Cook me!" As long as the turkey says, "Gobble," he or she is safe. When the turkey calls "Cook me!," however, the player tagged must jump up and chase the turkey around the circle. If the cook catches the turkey, the turkey must go sit in the center of the circle (the roasting pot). If the turkey sits in the cook's spot before the cook tags him, the turkey is safe, and the cook becomes the next turkey.

*Where is Mr. Turkey?: In this game, one player is the hunter and the others are helpers. The hunter leaves the room. The helpers hide a small toy turkey. The hunter returns with a mission to find the turkey. Helpers give clues by "gobbling" like turkeys. If the hunter is not close, the helpers gobble very quietly. As the hunter gets closer, the helpers gobble more and more loudly until Mr. Turkey is found!

*Egg Toss: This can get messy, but it's lots of fun. Pair up the kids and give them each one raw egg. Have them toss it between them and then take a step back. The game is played until one couple is left with an unbroken egg.

*Sack / Pillowcase Races: This is always an energizing activity. Prepare sacks or pillowcases ahead of time and let the kids race as they jump, hop and wobble over to the finish line. Add an autumnal touch by creating an obstacle course using pumpkins, corn stalks and bales of hay.

*Pass the Corn: Divide guests into two teams and have them form two lines. You will need two cobs of dried Indian corn. At the signal "go", the corncob is to be passed from person to person. But. they can use any part of their bodies, except their hands. If the corn touches the ground at any time, it must go back to the beginning of the line again. Whichever team manages to get the corn to the end of the line first wins the game.

*Ring the Pumpkin: Line up three large pumpkins with stems, to form a ring toss. Use embroidery hoops or make hoops with rope and duct tape. Mark a throwing line on the floor and take turns trying to ring a pumpkin stem. Smaller children can attempt to ring an entire large pumpkin with a hula hoop.

*Roll the Gourd: This traditional County Fair Game can be played in a yard, garage or even inside! It's a simple race but since pumpkins are not nice smooth balls and refuse to roll in nice straight lines, you will need plenty of room! You need two large pumpkins and two sturdy sticks. The racers, line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides. On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line. Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick. If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race. This game can also be played inside, using small pumpkins. You can also use empty plastic pop bottles for bowling pins. Each child gets three chances to roll the gourd into the pins as the gourds go every which way but straight.

*Gigglebelly : It's tough for kids to say the name of this game without cracking up. Once you start playing, you'll find that the belly laughs are completely contagious - no matter how serious some of the guests may be. You'll need at least four players and a comfortable grassy surface or carpeted floor to lie on. To begin, have one player lie down on his back. The next player lies down with his head resting on the first player's belly, and the next player lies down with her head on the second player's belly. Arrange all the players until everyone is zigzagged around the lawn or floor, each with his or her head on someone else's belly (if possible, make the line into a loop so that the last player can put her head on the first player's belly). Then, the first player shouts, loud and clear, "Ha!" The second player responds with a vigorous, "Ha, ha!" then the third player chimes in, "Ha, ha, ha!" Continue until all players have shouted out their "Ha's" or (more likely) have dissolved into uncontrollable laughter, with heads bouncing on the bellies.

*Cotton Ball Scoop: Fill large mixing bowls with cotton balls and give each guest a spoon. Kids must scoop out as many cotton balls as possible in one minute - without using fingers!

*Corn Cob Darts: Have the kids save their corn cobs. Clean off all the kernels. Break off one end of the cob. Stick in the quill end of a feather into this soft area. The kids can then have contest to see who can throw theirs the farthest or make a circle on the ground and see who can hit the center.

*Musical Cornucopias: Players sit on chairs forming a circle. There should be one more player than there are chairs. The player without a chair is the leader. The leader points to each of the other players to give them a name, such as "Cranberry, Corn, Apple , Turkey ," anything related to Thanksgiving. After names are chosen, the leader calls out two names, " Turkey and potato." Those two players must quickly switch places. The leader keeps calling at a quick pace, until suddenly she says "The cornucopia has tipped over!" Everyone, including the leader, then scrambles for a new place. The player without a seat is the new leader. The leader may give the same name to more than one person. It can get confusing but it is also very fun!

*Thanksgiving Dinner : Players sit in a circle. The first player starts by saying, "At Thanksgiving dinner I like to eat turkey". The next player must repeat "At Thanksgiving dinner I like to eat turkey..." and add another dish. This continues all the way around the circle with each student reciting the dishes in the exact order they have been given and then adding a new one. If a player makes a mistake they slide out of the circle and the game continues. The person left who can perfectly recite the Thanksgiving menu wins.

*Thanksgiving Charades: During the week leading up to Thanksgiving, ask each family member to write down or ask a parent to write down, something that they are thankful for, big or small. Add to the jar throughout the week. On Thanksgiving Day, pull the papers out of the jar and have a fun game of charades.

*Gratitude Grab Bag : Make up cards, some that say "THANKSGIVING" and others that have a picture on them (no words) of things children may be thankful for. Each child takes a turn reaching into the bag and pulling out a card. If the card says "THANKSGIVING" the child should express something or someone they are thankful for (parents, teachers, pet, favorite food, etc.) If they pull out a picture they show it to all and then express why we should be thankful for that item (food, clothes, trees, grass, stores, cars, etc.). This game is especially fun for preschoolers and their expressions of gratitude are priceless.

*Fox and Rabbit: This blindfold game is as entertaining for the onlookers as it is for the two players taking a turn at being the fox and the rabbit. In this mock hunt, players of all ages are challenged to use only their sense of hearing to find and tag their "prey." You'll need at least five players, two blindfolds and a small grassy area in which to play. Get everyone into a circle, with players about arm's length away from one another. Because this game relies on one player hearing another's movements, it is best played on grass, and everyone should keep very quiet during each round. Pick one player to be the fox and another to be the rabbit. Bring them both to the center of the circle and blindfold them (if young children do not wish to be blindfolded, they can just close their eyes). Explain that the fox is hunting at night and is listening for his prey, the rabbit. The rabbit, naturally, is trying to avoid the fox. The other players are trees that will guide the rabbit or fox gently back into the circle when either wanders off the playing area. Turn the rabbit and fox around several times to disorient them slightly, then let the hunt begin. Allow a little time for this game as every player will want a turn at being the predator and prey.

*Bean Toss: You'll need three to five dry beans per child, a chair, large bowl or tin pie plate. Have children divide into two teams. Each child is given five beans. On your mark the children will take a seat in a chair, that is set a distance from the bowl, and try to throw their beans, one at a time, into the bowl. The team with the most beans in the bowl at the end of the relay wins.

*Snap Apple: Pair up the kids, hang an apple from a string around the waist of one of the players and have their couple lay on the ground and try to eat it as it swings. This can also be done with a corncob.

*Shepherd and Wolf : One player is the wolf, one the Shepherd and the others sheep. The sheep stand at one end, the shepherd at the other, the wolf in the middle. The shepherd calls the sheep by name 2-3 at a time and they must try to reach the 'fold' or the shepherd before the wolf nabs them. If the wolf tags them they go to the wolf's den. The shepherd can rescue captured sheep by tagging them in the wolf's den when the wolf is not around. The wolf can do the same in the 'fold'.

*Stick the Feather on the Turkey: Cut out one feather for each player. Put a piece of tape or sticky-tack on the back of the feather. Blindfold one player at a time. Spin the player around a couple of times. The remaining players then verbally direct the blindfolded player to the correct placement of his or her feather.

*Thanksgiving Memory: Gather some fall, harvest or Thanksgiving items and put them on a cookie sheet. Small items are best and using a theme is fun too. Maybe a mini pumpkin, a cranberry, colored corn husk, pie server, TV remote (to symbolize the Football or Parade that you watch on TV each year) and even a feather are just a few options. Cover the cookie sheet with a dishtowel and put it aside. Give each person a pencil and paper. Set the timer for 1 minute. Uncover the items and let everyone look at them for a minute but they can't write anything down. After the timer goes off cover up the cookie sheet again. Set the timer for 3 or 5 minutes. Everyone is supposed to write down what they saw. The person who remembers the most items if the winner.

*Turkey Hide & Seek: Depending on how many kids are playing, choose two to three to be the Pilgrims going on a turkey hunt, the rest of the children are the turkeys. Have the 'hunters' count to ten to allow the turkeys time to hide. The turkeys may gobble to help the hunters locate them, as the turkeys are caught the hunters place them in a designated 'pen'. When all turkeys are caught, change the hunters and play again, and again, and again.

*Bird, Beast, or Fish: You have to think fast for this game. Everyone sits facing the leader. The leader points to one of the players and says either "BIRD," "BEAST," or "FISH." The chosen player must come up with the name of an animal that fits the category before the leader counts to ten. No repeating! If the player does not respond in time, she is out. The game continues until only one player remains. As you can guess, after a few rounds it can be hard to think of an animal that has not already been mentioned!

*Word Find : Take a Thanksgiving related word such as: Thanksgiving, Mayflower, Cornucopia, etc. and find as many little words as possible within before the timer runs out.

SUBSCRIBE to the Birthdayography Ezine
Subscribe FREE to our "Birthdayography" e-zine, packed with original kid birthday party ideas. And, if you subscribe NOW, you'll also receive Free and Unlimited access to the coolest selection of printable kid birthday invitations you won't find anywhere else. Join over 41,000 subscribers!
Offer available ONLY to active subscribers	Email: First Name: And now...	Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone
*READ THIS: A username and password to the printable invitations section is provided in Issue #008 on the Birthdayography Backissues page. (You'll receive a link to this page immediately after confirming your subscription...)

Coolest Thanksgiving Game Ideas